How Do Migration Networks Facilitate African Student Mobility and Integration In China? - - A Social Network Perspective on South-to-South Migration

My proposed research project focuses on the South-to-South Brain Drain from Africa to China. In particular, I am interested in the education and occupation composition of these African student migration groups in comparison to the other African global mobility patterns, their different migration destination allocation within China, and their social assimilation with the local community and communication within their own immigrant groups through social networking websites. I hope to explore Africa – China migration pattern and social integration in the future by utilizing mixed methods, including surveys, in-depth interviews, social network analysis and ethnography. The specific phenomena I seek to examine in this area are a) individual incentives for migration, b) the role that social networks play in decisions after their graduation (which include integration and career planning, etc.), and c) how these decisions are facilitated and influenced by communication. I would also further look into the labor market and social welfare (health and education) policy boundaries and inequality for African student migrants in China.